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“The United States has reached an agreement with the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland that grants the United States permanent control over security and all other necessities in Greenland, and that addresses all of our concerns,” wrote Trump. The Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, celebrated the "good prospect" of an agreement that "strengthens joint security" and that simultaneously "recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Denmark and the "right of the people of Greenland to self-determination," according to the statement. In turn, the government of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has affirmed that the agreement with the United States preserves the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this Arctic island, as indicated by the autonomous president of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, on his social networks. Nielsen emphasizes that it will benefit not only the collective security of this island of about 56,000 inhabitants but also continued development. "The agreement reflects what we have said from the beginning, that the position of Greenland is recognized. The right to self-determination is recognized and the Greenlandic people are recognized in accordance with international law," added the Greenlandic Minister of Foreign Affairs, Múte B. Egede.
The agreement came after months of controversial negotiations between the United States and Denmark, in response to Washington's pressure and a possible military expansion by the world's first power to the island, an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark. It is hoped that the pact will put an end to the threats by the North American president to forcibly annex the territory of a member of NATO.
In May, it was learned that the Pentagon intends to open three new bases. Trump, who has threatened on several occasions to buy or directly invade the island militarily, wanted these installations to be designated as sovereign territory of the United States, a demand to which his interlocutors opposed.
"Full capacity"
According to Trump, the US will have "forever full capacity to do whatever is necessary in Greenland to guarantee and defend the security" of the island and the United States. The Republican also affirmed that "no adversary" of Washington will have "ever" a base or military presence on the autonomous territory without the prior authorization of the US. Trump assures that "we will be the protectors" of the island and that the agreement is "infinite".
Although the full content of the agreement has not yet been disclosed, North American sources consulted by Efe assure that it guarantees the United States a permanent role in the security of Greenland and that no adversary of Washington will have military presence or unauthorized investments on the island. According to Washington, the pact grants the United States the authority to "do what is necessary in Greenland" to guarantee the security of the island and the US, including permanent presence on the island and flight rights, as well as allowing the increase of North American bases if necessary.
In this regard, Frederiksen pointed out: "We are pleased that there is the prospect of a good agreement for Greenland, that strengthens our shared security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic region, and that it also benefits NATO and Europe." A few hours later, the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, defended the security agreement with Washington with the argument that "the situation in the Arctic has changed".
It will depend greatly on the reaction of the European Union and its member states, in a time of crisis with the United States alliance, in which Europe seeks alternatives to stop depending solely on the security umbrella of Washington. The agreement announced by the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, this week with Canada was moving in this direction.
The antecedent
The announcement followed the fact that in January a delegation from Denmark and Greenland traveled to Washington to deal with Trump's annexationist threats. The Arctic island has constantly reiterated the sovereignty of the territory and that it does not want to be owned by the US. Upon their departure from the White House, the Greenlandic and Danish representatives explained that there was a "fundamental disagreement" about the future of the island, but they were open to continuing negotiations to find a point of understanding with Washington.
The imperialist claims of the island respond to Trump's theory about the need to control strategic territories for the security of the US. They also respond to new changing international dynamics and a more aggressive global climate, where the law of the strongest seems to prevail again.